Counterintuitive Traits of being Smart
Pretend to be smart until you actually become one

We live in an era of smart homes, use smartphones and other smart devices, why not be old school and be smart yourself? Here’s my to-do list I try my behavioural best to act upon.
You focus on things that really matter
The battles that you choose are the ones that truly earn your attention. You pursue what only matters to you in this world. You are selfish about your constructive goals. You use your voice to make a difference.
You are more interesting.
If you find yourself hooked on to Quora most of the time, then you are curious. Since you’re curious about a lot of things, you spend some of your time finding answers to questions that spark your brain. You love it when you’re learning information you never knew or heard before. You attract trust from important people. Your ideas always bring something fresh and new to the table.
You can solve problems efficiently
If something or someone stresses you out, you shut them down immediately. Time is precious to you. You are annoyed if people turn up three minutes late to a meeting. It’s not your thing to wait and depend. You tend to lift that heaviness in your shoulder and throw it away.
You attract trust from important people.
Someone like you attracts key people in every place that you work in because they know you get things done and you get things done correctly. Persistence steams off of your body. One look at you and they know you’re something. They know they can groom you into the person who will become a valuable asset to their company someday.
You have bigger earnings.
Your market value is above average because you have a better and unique set of skills. One of the benefits of being smart in your 20s is that you almost never have to worry about money. You get good pay wherever you go. You can demand a salary that you deserve because you’re talented and intelligent.
You make good life choices.
You know when is the right time to play safe and when is the right time to take major risks in making decisions. You recognize what needs to be changed in the way you live life. Your past is a Mariner’s compass. As much as possible, you opt for choices that will both benefit you today and in the long run.
You are always in the right place.
You look at the elements of your life as puzzle pieces that need to fit perfectly for them to live a meaningful life. When something isn’t working right, you figure out what is it and they do something about it.
You control your impulses not to override the instincts.
You can differentiate between short-term wants and long-term desires and needs.
You are always open to being wrong.
Your internal monologue always ends with: “or, maybe not. Correct me if am wrong, I suppose and so on.”
You pursue others' interests without judgment.
You do not think that you have to maintain a self-concept of “wise and sophisticated” to be smart. You realize that the smartest thing of all is to know how to figure out what you love and let yourself love it.
You never worry about fitting in.
You don’t feel shy about reaching out to those who inspire you and because of that, you become friends with some of them. Despite your desire to spend time on your own, you are also sometimes happy to build deep relationships with people who have the same visions and ambitions that you have. Your life becomes more colorful when you are surrounded by people who see the world the way that you do.
You never run out of wisdom.
Some people like getting advice from you because you give them realistic and practical insights about everything in life. Strength and encouragement can be found in your words. Everything that you say impacts those who read them or hear them. And that is the kind of power that not a lot of people have.
Make your weakness your strongest point.
Some people crib over their troubles. Before someone takes advantage of it, defeat it within yourself. I was laid off my job in its initial 8 months, and was told to serve a month’s notice without being reported to office since I had done a good job. The company was going through a cash crunch and it was a difficult time. I started interviewing almost immediately and got an offer. Yet was still a billable resource in my previous company. I joined the new organisation and ensure I got paid two salaries for that month. Make the most of your situations.
You are going to better places.
Whatever you do, you do it with passion. You care about where you’re going in life. You work hard and you don’t stop exerting efforts, even if the world doesn’t love you sometimes. The DNA that is built in your system is different from most people. You don’t settle down for just okay. You dream big. And you strive every single day, wishing you’ll soon find yourself in a better place where your heart wants to be.
